The Federal High Court of Nigeria has declared the killing of one Ja’afar Muhammad by the Nigeria Police in 2019 as illegal, citing a clear violation of his fundamental rights.
The ruling delivered by Justice Z B Abubakar of the Abuja Division, highlighted the infringement of Muhammad’s rights as guaranteed by Section 33 (1) 35 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).
The court case, brought forward by one Naziru Isah Abdullahi under suit number FHC/ABJ/CD/409/2020, provided compelling evidence that Muhammad was shot and sustained injuries while peacefully participating in a ‘Free Zakzaky’ protest at the Federal Secretariat in Abuja on July 22, 2019.
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Justice Abubakar affirmed that the evidence presented by Isah was sufficient to prove that the arrest and subsequent killing of the victim was illegal and a gross violation of his fundamental rights.
It was learnt that Muhammad was placed at Asokoro District Hospital in Abuja after he was shot but eventually died when the police forcibly removed him from the hospital and took him to the SARS Cell in Abattoir, Garki, Abuja without necessary medical attention.
The court directed the Inspector General of Police to compensate the applicant, Naziru Isah, with N100,000,000.00 (One Hundred Million Naira) as restitution for the unlawful detention and killing of Ja’afar Muhammad.
Also, the court issued an order instructing the Inspector General of Police and the Medical Director of Asokoto District Hospital to release Muhammad’s remains to his family for immediate burial following Islamic rites.
